Stopwatch Children

Slowly Fading

Slowly Fading

I'm awake but slowly fading in and out. I feel my head spinning; my eyes are half closed. Someone takes my hand, I stand on shaky legs but follow this faceless stranger. I don't know where we're going but I hear the chime of a bell and I feel the warmth of a cushioned seat under me, mumbled voices stop as I'm pushed to lay down.

'Where am I?' I wonder but my mind is fuzzy, too tired disoriented to do anything but lay down and let the dark push me under.

Yelling and frantic hands stop me; tell me my eyes need to stay open, talk. I try to make them understand my need for rest but my tongue is too big for my mouth. I try again but I'm stopped, from my blurry eyes I see a woman.

She is small; a round face, with dark hair, and worried eyes. Tells me to be quiet and runs a damp cloth on my forehead. She sings to me softly and makes me lay still in itchy cloth. My eyes can see again; there are too many people around the room looking at me.

I struggle to sit up but she stops me again with gentile hands. She looks worried again and I still, looking at her like a newborn child. She pats my hair and adjusts the cloth.

I hold her cheek and she lays me down; why does she feel so safe?

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